MOVING MUSIC

by SUBEKSHA POUDEL

FROM ISSUE # 168 (December 2009) | IN THIS ISSUE
	REFER TO FRIEND		PRINT THIS ARTICLE

To give our party animals an awesome night, PlayMySound invited DJ Aaron James to Kathmandu earlier this month. Having DJ-ed for the past 12 years, Aaron was sure to deliver at his gig at Moods lounge. WAVE spoke to this top American DJ before the show:

Why do you disco jockey?
For every possible reason under the sun: it's very liberating, I can be my own boss and I love my job, I don't take it as a meal ticket, more like a train ticket.

What influences you to mix songs?
It influences me the most when I can move people from the first moment to the last. And my friends, producers, DJs as well as critics motivate me to mix. But most importantly, I myself am the greatest influence.

When you started, had you imagined that you'd come this far?
I had imagined that I would but hadn't realised that I actually could.

What kind of music do you like?
I like electro fused with hip-hop, break beats, dance world, house beats. And I pick songs that people respond to emotionally.

One genre of music that people love all around the world when you DJ.
The same as above.

In a party, what kind of a crowd do you like?
A crowd of sexy women. I like a mixed crowd, with all kinds of people from all creeds – gay, straight, all genders.

What is the first reaction on the floor when people hear your music?
People start moving.

What kind of a crowd are you expecting tonight?
No idea. I'm not expecting anything surprisingly, and that's great; expecting the unexpected perhaps.

What did you do before you became a DJ?
I was temping mostly. I also worked in recording companies.

Had you not been this successful, what would you be doing?
Initially I wanted to be an archaeologist, then a professor. I was supposed to be connected with education no matter what I did, so I would have probably done something in journalism.

What do you want to achieve now?
Clear all my debts and be free. (Laughs) But I surely want to come more often to South-east Asia.

Your favourite pastime?
Like any other normal person's – standing on a terrace, staring into space, cuddling (chuckles) and researching music.

One thing that you loved about Katmandu in your two-day visit?
The people, definitely.

Fan mail: djaaronjames[at]hotmail.com
DJ Aaron has performed with Kid Rock, Elton John, Lil' Kim, Groove Armada, The Wailers, PM Dawn, Michael Fronte, John Digweed, Black Eyed Peas, and recording artist Glenn Lewis.